UAlbany Men's Outdoor Track & Field Picked First in Preseason Coach's Poll, Women Garner Third Place

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany men’s outdoor track and field team has been selected to finish first, while the women’s team was chosen to place third, according to the preseason poll of the head coaches conducted by the America East Conference.

The Great Danes were selected to win their fourth consecutive men’s conference championship by receiving seven first place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams), totaling 63 points. New Hampshire, which earned the remaining two first place votes, tallied 55 points for second place, while Binghamton followed closely behind with 53 points. UMBC came in fourth with 43 points and Boston U. recorded 36 points to round out the top-five. Stony Brook was tabbed sixth with 29 points, followed by Maine (20), Vermont (17) and Hartford (8) to complete the nine-team poll.

In the women’s poll, Boston U. was selected as the preseason choice to finish the season first and follow up its indoor championship. The Terriers received six first place votes to garner 62 points. New Hampshire was tabbed first on the final three ballots and received 59 points for second place. UAlbany, the defending outdoor champions, placed third with 50 points. UMBC was picked fourth with 40 points and Stony Brook registered 33 points to round out the top-five preseason picks. Binghamton finished sixth with 31 points, followed by Maine (22), Vermont (19) and Hartford (8).

The UAlbany men, who have combined to win the last six indoor and outdoor conference championships, will be led this season by captains Renauld Buck, Drew Harrison and Michael McCadney. The Great Danes won nine events at last season’s conference championship en route to a meet record 268 points and their third consecutive outdoor championship and fourth in the past five years. UAlbany returns 2007 champions Joe Greene (400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and 4x400-meter relay), Ricardo Estremera (3,000-meter steeplechase), Freddie Wills (triple jump), Gabriel Lopez (long jump), Pat Weider (200-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay), Raphael Jean-Baptiste (4x100-meter relay) and Dieuseul Joseph (4x100-meter relay).

The Great Danes’ women’s team will be led by captains Jenn Gurrant, Brenna Militello and Ashley Vives. UAlbany won four events to edge out New Hampshire by six points for its second consecutive title at last season’s conference meet. Militello, a senior, and Gurrant, a junior, return to defend their 2007 championships in the high jump and long jump, respectively.

The 2008 America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held May 3-4 at the University of Maine.

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Men’s (first place votes in parenthesis)

1. UAlbany (7) 63, 2. New Hampshire (2) 55, 3. Binghamton 53, 4. UMBC 43, 5. Boston U. 36, 6. Stony Brook 29, 7. Maine 20, 8. Vermont 17, 9. Hartford 8.


Women’s (first place votes in parenthesis)

1. Boston U. (6) 62, 2. New Hampshire (3) 59, 3. UAlbany 50, 4. UMBC 40, 5. Stony Brook 33, 6. Binghamton 31, 7. Maine 22, 8. Vermont 19, 9. Hartford 8.